Mixed quantum-classical methods for molecular simulations of biochemical reactions with microwave fields: the case study of myoglobin

Contradictory data in the huge literature on microwaves bio-effects may result from a poor understanding of the mechanisms of interaction between microwaves and biological systems. Molecular simulations of biochemical processes seem to be a promising tool to comprehend microwave induced bio-effects. Molecular simulations of classical and quantum events involved in relevant biochemical processes enable to follow the dynamic evolution of a biochemical reaction in the presence of microwave fields. In this paper, the action of a microwave signal (1 GHz) on the covalent binding process of a ligand (carbon monoxide) to a protein (myoglobin) has been studied. Our results indicate that microwave fields, with intensities much below the atomic/molecular electric interactions, cannot affect such biochemical process.